Blackpool and The British Open Championships

If you want to know what was cool 30 years ago.... go to Blackpool, England. 

If you want to see what Atlantic City, Coney Island and Dirt look like after being deserted for 30 years.... by all means, go to Blackpool, England. The town gave me the creeps but what was worse was our hotel! I thought we were in a mental institution! It was like a haunted house mixed with old crazy people and the mentally insane. It was like if you crossed One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest with Shutter Island with Girl Interrupted and Hostel all in one. We were in a basement room which the hall way was recently painted and smelled awful! It gave you a headache just walking to our room down the stairs! We're also 99% sure that there was a bloody napkin or tissue in the corner of our room. The place was definitely haunted and some of us were so scared, instead of sticking just two people in a room we one night had four of us in our room cause they were too scared to sleep in their room. Do not go to Blackpool, England if it can be avoided and if you do, DO NOT stay at the Metropole Hotel.... the Travelodge across the street looked real tempting and I almost booked myself a room.

Besides the hotel.... the town was kind of creepy but it was fun at times. We went to the restaurant called Walkabout, which was an Australian place (we tried Kangaroo.... not bad, like steak) where they had "Mad Mondays" at night with games and competitions in the pub. So we went back at night and some of the people in our group participated in dance competitions on stage - a few involving smashing eggs on each others heads and if you got the hard boiled egg smashed on your head you were the winner.... one of our guys won and he won a pitcher of cider.... one of guys lost the dance and egg competition and got yolk all in his hair and his shirt. It was a fun night but definitely an eclectic crowd in Blackpool. 

The next day we went to the practice rounds of the British Open where we had pretty good weather for most of the day but then in the afternoon it started to rain and that was no fun. We saw a lot of famous golfers which was awesome. Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, and Ricky Fowler. I got Phil Mickelson and Bubba Watson's autographs after wedging my way through crowds! I only broke my umbrella to get to Phil but it was worth it! Nice day out on the greens! We got a huge shout out from Jim Fuyrk when he saw our U of A flag (U of A alum). He came over and talked to us for a long while. He talked to a few people in our group for about 10 minutes while signing other peoples autographs! He loved that we were there!

Tomorrow we are heading out to Manchester to go see the Manchester United (My favorite premier League Team!) famous stadium Old Tafford and the watch the Men's and Women's USA Basketball exhibition games for the olympics against Great Britain!! Cannot wait to see the Dream Team!

Blackpool Pier

Walking the Pier

Our Hotel.... sketch

Kangaroo Skewers 

The Open Championship

Tiffany and I ready for the day

Bubba Watson on his practice round on the 18th

18th hole

Bubba talking with me and signing my ticket!

His autograph... and thumb print

The 16th hole on the course... I think

Phil Mickelson

Phil Mickelson and Ricky Fowler practicing together

Jim Furyk (Go Cats!)

Kendall getting Phil's autograph and telling him she goes to ASU (his alma mater) so that he'd come talk to us! Felt awful yelling "Go Sundevils" with him.... felt so wrong.

Cheers!